'Straight Outta Compton' becomes a summer movie hit
'Compton' is a film version of the history of the hip-hop group N.W.A. and the movie placed first at the box office this weekend. Meanwhille, fellow new release 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' struggled in its debut weekend.
'Straight Outta Compton' stars Corey Hawkins.
Jaimie Trueblood/Universal Pictures/AP
The music biopic, 鈥淪traight Outta Compton,鈥� which tells the story of the formation of the influential hip-hop group N.W.A., topped the box office this past weekend, while the spy movie, 鈥淭he Man From U.N.C.L.E.,鈥� struggled in its first week.
鈥淐ompton鈥� stars actors such as O鈥橲hea Jackson Jr. and Corey Hawkins as N.W.A. members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, among others. The movie was mostly well-received by critics and grossed more than domestically in its debut weekend. That's reportedly the ever for a musical biopic.
鈥淢ission: Impossible 鈥� Rogue Nation,鈥� the newest action movie in the series starring Tom Cruise, came in second at the box office, grossing $17 million. The movie was in its third week and is certainly one of the success stories of the summer, having already reportedly grossed of what its predecessor, 2011鈥檚 鈥淢ission: Impossible 鈥� Ghost Protocol,鈥� grossed in its entire run.
Meanwhile, 鈥淢an,鈥� which was based off the 1960s TV show of the same name, came in third, grossing more than $13 million. The movie stars Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill as agents during the 1960s. The film did not do well with critics.聽
The critically-panned superhero movie, 鈥淔antastic Four,鈥� grossed $8 million, coming in fourth at the domestic box office, and the thriller 鈥淭he Gift鈥� grossed more than $6 million this past weekend, placing fifth.
What鈥檚 behind the success of 鈥淐ompton鈥�? The group N.W.A. is still revered among music fans, with their debut album, which gave the movie its name, often called one of the best of all time by critics. And moviegoers may have wanted to revisit the group鈥檚 lyrics about racial tensions, considering recent events in America.
In addition, the movie could have just represented something different to moviegoers who have seen many superhero movies and action films over the summer season. 鈥淐ompton鈥� may have appeared to be a refreshing change of pace for moviegoers and strong reviews no doubt encouraged moviegoers to seek it out.